High Five 100 Race Kit - Benji Wiederkehr
My complete kit for winning and setting the course record at the High Five 100, a 100-mile off-trail, unmarked, self-supported race climbing five 14ers in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in 28:52 hours.
Benji Wiederkehr's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
Products in this list
- Norvan Jacket by Arc'teryx — I’m using an older version of this hoodie with the GORE-TEX membrane on the outside. It’s simply fantastic: bulletproof, packable, superlight.
- Cormac Crew Neck Shirt LS Men's by Arc'teryx — When expecting lower temperatures or higher winds, I layer a longsleeve over a shortsleeve or go longsleeve only.
- Norvan Downword Logo Shirt SS Men's by Arc'teryx — I’m using an earlier, discontinued shirt, called the Motus short-sleeve shirt, but I assume these two are fairly comparable.
- A60 Hoodie by Senchi Designs — When expecting temperatures below freezing, I layer a Alpha Direct 60 hoodie between my baselayer and my outershell (wind or rain hoodie). Breathable, hydrophobic, ultralight insulation.
- Montane Unisex Minimus Nano Pull Over Waterproof Pants by Montane — The lightest waterproof pants around with a large enough zipper to put or take off without taking your shoes off.
- Sykes PX by PATH Projects — My all-time favorite running shorts with the perfect storage capacity and configuration (three zipper pockets and one internal key pocket).
- Norvan Mesh 5 Panel Cap by Arc'teryx — I’m using an older version of this hat with an ultralight, breathable ripstop instead of the mesh, but I trust that this hat is equally perfect for lightweight protection from sun, wind, and rain.
- GOCap by Ciele Athletics — I’m using an earlier, discontinued version, called the ALZ cap, but they seem very comparable to the new, smaller version of the Go cap.
- Merino Lightweight Beanie by Buff — I’m using an earlier, discontinued version with a slightly different material, but the use case is the same: keeping my head warm in wet, windy, and cold conditions.
- Merino Lightweight Neckwear by Buff — I’m using an earlier, discontinued version with a slightly different material, but the use case is the same: keeping my neck or head warm in wet, windy, and cold conditions.
- Multi-Sport Mesh by SAXX — IYKYK
- Trail Max Cushion Quarter by Feetures
- The Run Compression Calf Sleeves 4.0 by CEP
- Core Run Ultralight Compression Arm Sleeves by CEP
- REI Co-Op Polartec Wind Pro Fleece Gloves 2.0 by REI Co-op
- The Original® Covert by Tactical Gloves — These are my favorite gloves on adventures with extended scrambling and bushwacking. While not ideal for technical climbing, they protect my hands from sharp edges, thorns, briars, etc. When paired with a liner glove, they are even surprisingly warm as a robust outer shell.
- Tecton X 3 by Hoka
- GENESIS 2 by Salomon — I’ve used an earlier version, the Genesis 1, of this shoe, but the basics stayed the same: good grip, good support, great lacing system, comfortable for many hours.
- S/LAB ULTRA by Salomon
- INSTAgaiter® by Kahtoola — Gaiters are a great addition for off-trail routes with scree fields or bushwacking to keep debris out of my shoes.
- ADV SKIN 5 by Salomon — Fits gear, calories, and two 500ml flasks for 4–6 hours of high-alpine mountain running.
- ADV SKIN 12 by Salomon — Fits gear, calories, and two 500ml flasks or a reservoir for 6–12 hours of high-alpine mountain running.
- LF 2L by Raide Research — Fits essentials, calories, and one 500ml flask for 2–4 hours of high-alpine mountain running in fair conditions.
- COROS APEX 2 Pro by COROS
- Oslo Sunglasses by Roka
- NB10000 Energy Brick by Nitecore
- Distance Z Running Poles by Black Diamond
- Lumen 600 5.0 Waist Light by UltrAspire — I use a waist light in addition to a headlamp when I go through an entire night. I feel like this light is easier on the eyes, provides a wider light cone, and better depth perception on technical trails or off-trail. The 600 is strong enough and has enough battery life for a full night.
- Fenix HM65R-T V2.0 by Fenix — If I plan to run extended sections of a route without daylight, I bring this headlamp as my primary light source. The light source and battery life are excellent and the headband is very comfortable. The Boa-like system make micro adjustments quick and easy.
- Petzl Swift LT Headlamp by Petzl — I’ve used an earlier version, the Bindi, of this headlamp, but the basics stayed the same: very simple design, short-ish battery life, low lumen output. A great, light headlamp for a few hours or as a fallback.
- Soft Flask with XA Filter by Salomon — I try to treat my water from natural sources in almost all areas that I’m exploring. These filters are simple and quick to use with minimal added weight to a regular soft flask.
- inReach® Mini 2 by Garmin — I always carry my inReach Mini to share my location with my family and to send an SOS message if something goes wrong. I’m still using version 2 instead of 3, because it has all the features I need and it’s slightly lighter.
- SOL Emergency Blanket by SOL — I always carry my emergency blanket in the high-alpine in case I get exposed to weather without being able to keep my body temperature steady through movement. Unquestionable benefit-to-weight ratio.
